Calibrachoa plant named ‘Suncalpink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Suncalpink’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; early and long flowering period; numerous single red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNCALPINK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Suncalpink’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compact, mounding and freely branching Calibrachoa plants with attractive and uniquely colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2008 of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number S10, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 6800-305, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Suncalpink’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Suncalpink’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.     -   4. Early and long flowering period.     -   5. Numerous single red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Calibrachoa are oblanceolate to         spatulate in shape whereas leaves of plants of the female parent         selection are close to orbicular in shape.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have peach-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Calibrachoa are oblanceolate to         spatulate in shape whereas leaves of plants of the male parent         selection are lanceolate to spatulate in shape.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have dark red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of Calibrachoa ‘Suncalpi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,392. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Suncalpi’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more trailing than plants         of ‘Suncalpi’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Calibrachoa were oblanceolate to         spatulate in shape whereas leaves of plants of ‘Suncalpi’ were         narrowly elliptic in shape.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Suncalpi’.     -   4. Plants of the Calibrachoa had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Suncalpi’.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Suncalpi’ differed         slightly in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Suncalpink’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Suncalpink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the early summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Suncalpink’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number S10, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 6800-305, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at             15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright, outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit             with numerous lateral branches developing per plant;             pinching enhances lateral branch development; vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 43.2 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 15.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 143C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 3 cm.         -   Width.—About 9.9 mm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate to spatulate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138B; venation, close to 144C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             usually about 161 flowers per plant; flowers face upright or             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about three             weeks after planting; long flowering period, flowering             commences naturally during the spring and plants flower             continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in             Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 2.7 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 7.3 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 2.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1 cm. Color: Close to N57D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.3 cm. Petal width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin: Entire. Petal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color:             Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to N74B. Petal,             when opening, lower surface: Close to 72D. Petal, fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N74B; venation, close to             N74B. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 75A.             Throat: Close to 5A. Tube: Close to 4B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 5.9 mm to             8.9 mm. Sepal width: About 1.9 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly             elliptic. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Sepal color:             Immature and mature, upper surface: Close to 143A. Immature             and mature, lower surface: Close to 143B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 0.6 mm.             Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 141D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Stamen length: About 7.5 mm to 11.4 mm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.3 mm by 1.4 mm. Anther             color: Close to 5B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 6A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 10.8 mm. Style color: Close to 143C. Stigma             shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to             143B. Ovary color: Close to 140B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Suncalpink’ as illustrated and described. 